Crescimento inicial de variedades de Coffea arabIca L. no município de Alagoa Grande - PB

Abstract

The Coffea genus is responsible for producing one of the most widely recognized beverages due to its flavor, aroma, and stimulating properties - coffee. Within this group, two species stand out in the national and international markets: Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora. As a result, various institutions conduct research to promote improvements in coffee production, particularly in regions with distinct conditions, through experimental evaluations and observations of plant performance. This study aimed to evaluate the vegetative growth and adaptability of nine Coffea arabica L. varieties in Alagoa Grande, Paraíba, focusing on investing in varieties that best adapt to the region. The experiment was conducted at Sítio Triunfo, in the Brejo Paraibano microregion. Plant height, canopy diameter, stem diameter, leaf area, and number of plagiotropic branches were analyzed in the following varieties: Acauã, Bourbon Amarelo, Catuaí Amarelo 62, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144, Catucai Amarelo 2015, Catucai Amarelo 24/137, IPR 103, Mundo Novo 376/19, and Siriema, 360 days after planting. The results were subjected to variance analysis, and means were compared using Tukey's test at 5% probability. Five varieties (Acauã, Bourbon Amarelo, Catucaí Amarelo 24/137, Catucaí Vermelho IAC 144, and Mundo Novo 376/19) presented the highest means for plant height, while three of them (Acauã, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144, and Catucaí Amarelo 24/137) showed the largest canopy diameters. No significant differences were observed among varieties for stem diameter and leaf area. Regarding branch number, five varieties (Bourbon Amarelo, Catucaí Amarelo 24/137, Acauã, Catucaí Amarelo 2015, and Mundo Novo 376/19) presented the highest means. Notably, two varieties consistently presented superior means across most variables: Catucaí Amarelo 24/137 and Acauã.